Frosting Phenomenon and Frost-Free Technology of Outdoor Air Heat Exchanger for an Air-Source Heat Pump System in China: An Analysis and Review

Yi Zhang, Guanmin Zhang, Aiqun Zhang, Yinhan Jin, Ruirui Ru and Maocheng Tian
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Yi Zhang: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, China
Guanmin Zhang: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, China
Aiqun Zhang: State Grid Shandong Integrated Energy Services Company Limited, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China
Yinhan Jin: State Grid Liaocheng Power Supply Company, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong, China
Ruirui Ru: State Grid Liaocheng Power Supply Company, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong, China
Maocheng Tian: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong, China

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-36

Abstract: Frost layer on the outdoor air heat exchanger surface in an air-source heat pump (ASHP) can decrease the system coefficient of performance (COP). Although the common defrosting and anti-frosting methods can improve the COP, the periodic defrosting not only reduces the system energy efficiency but also deteriorates the indoor environment. To solve these problems, it is necessary to clearly understand the frosting phenomenon and to achieve the system frost-free operation. This paper focused firstly on the analyses of frosting pathways and frosting maps. Followed by summarizing the characteristics of frost-free technologies. And then the performances of two types of frost-free ASHP (FFASHP) systems were reviewed, and the exergy and economic analysis of a FFASHP heating system were carried out. Finally, the existing problems related to the FFASHP technologies were proposed. Results show that the existing frosting maps need to be further improved. The FFASHP systems can not only achieve continuous frost-free operation but reduce operating cost. And the total COP of the FFASHP heating system is approximately 30–64% higher than that of the conventional ASHP system under the same frosting conditions. However, the investment cost of the FFASHP system increases, and its reliability also needs further field test in a wider frosting environment. In the future, combined with a new frosting map, the control strategy for the FFASHP system should be optimized.

Keywords: renewable energy; air-source heat pump system (ASHP); heat exchanger; frosting phenomenon; frost-free technology; coefficient of performance (COP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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